Animus

West's Encyclopedia of American Law
COPYRIGHT 2005 The Gale Group, Inc.

ANIMUS

[Latin, Mind, soul, or intention.] A tendency or an inclination toward a definite, sometimes unavoidable, goal; an aim, objective, or purpose.

When animus is used in conjunction with other words of Latin origin, its most common meaning is "the intention of." For example, animus revocandi is the intention of revoking; animus possidendi is the intention of possessing.

Animo, meaning "with intent," may be employed in a manner similar to animus. For example, animo felonico means with felonious intent.

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animus

an·i·mus
/ ˈanəməs/
•
n.
1.
hostility or ill feeling:
the author's animus toward her.2.
motivation to do something:
the reformist animus came from within the Party.3.Psychol.
Jung's term for the masculine part of a woman's personality.Often contrasted with anima.

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